Chosen of God
Text: Ephesian 1:1-4
Who can explain Christianity? Any man that claims to have the answer is grossly mistaken. Christianity that can be explained is not real but lacking the substance of truth. Christianity has a depth and height that no man can fathom. Moreover, today’s sermon is just one of those difficult subjects from the prison epistles of Apostle Paul written to the saints in the city of Ephesus. This preciousness of this epistle is as an apple set in a frame of gold. Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Apostle Paul revealed the hidden mystery of what the church is in pictorial theology, each chapter capturing the imagery of the body of Christ the church.
This preciousness of this epistle is as an apple set in a frame of gold. Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Apostle Paul revealed the hidden mystery of what the church is in pictorial theology, each chapter capturing the imagery of the body of Christ the church.
The first chapter reveals the church as the body of Christ.
The second is a temple built with both Jewish and non-Jewish believers.
The third reveals the church as a mystery.
The fourth shows the church as a new creation.
The fifth reveals the church as the bride of Christ.
Finally, the sixth chapter shows the church as military battalion engaged in a cosmic battle.
Our focus is today is on the doctrine of sovereign election by God including the areas of predestination and the free will of man. We are going to look at the sovereign choice of men by God, which is why I titled the sermon as chosen of God. Calvin and many of the theologians of the Reformed wrote extensively on this subject. God is sovereign and does what He pleased. We just have to accept it by faith.
The Division of Ephesians 1:1-14:
The Fourteen verses are divided into three distinct sections with each ending with praise to the Lord (verse 6, 12, and 14). The division reveals how God chooses, saves and blesses us. Notice the phrase “in and through Christ”. It means that out of Christ is nothing and void of the blessings of God and in Christ are everything we need in this life and beyond.
The works of the Father (verses 3-6)
The works of the Son Jesus Christ (verses 7-12)
The works of the Holy Spirit (verses 13-14)
All three actively participated in the salvation of man. Each having a part and co-working as one in unity to restore man with a new and better hope.
God blessed us
The many blessings that God blessed us with are written as listed for us from verse 3-14 as follows:
We are chosen, to be holy, blameless, adopted, accepted, and redeemed,
We have the forgiveness of sin, abundance in wisdom, God reveals to us His mystery, and we are given us an inheritance,
We are to show His praise, and given, sealed us with the Holy Spirit. I have written over 13 of them to provoke your heart with joy.
God chooses us.
It says God chooses us before the foundation of the world that is before He ever created man. It shows that it was not an afterthought of God. Therefore, before He created mankind He chooses some to show His kindness and power. He knew all His works before they were made both visible and invisible. The word in Greek is «???e?t?» it means to select, to pick out of and so on. This is according to the foreknowledge of God who knows all things. But why would God do such a thing? I don’t know. He knew prophet Jeremiah before he was born and chooses him. Does it mean He selects some to be saved and others not? This where the doctrine of predestination comes in that cannot be fully explained but to accepted by faith. This hard doctrine has been the source of argument by several theologians. The scripture says in Romans 9:19-21 / 11:33-36 that it is by grace and not works that are the basis of our being chosen. Besides, who can know the depth of Gods wisdom and knowledge that is beyond our learning?
In the scripture, the word chosen was applied to our Lord from the book of Isaiah 42:1 quoted in Matthew 12:18, and 1 Peter2:4. He was chosen by God for a purpose, as the Chief corner stone, the sacrificial Lamb of God.
Can humanity choose God?
The clear answer is no. What can a blind man choose? Can a blind or dead man search for what he does not know exist? Our Lord said you have not chosen Me but I have chosen you. Yes, it is true. Therefore, it is not possible for any man to choose God for the following reason:
We were blind, children of wrath, enemies of God,
Also, we were without strength, dead spiritually and dead in sins and trespasses.
John 15:16, Romans 3:23/ 5:6-12/ 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 / Ephesians 2:1-3. Now that we cannot choose God, by all the above reasons then God has to make His choice through predestination. No man can come to the Lord except God calls him. And all that He called gave to His Son John 6:37, 39-40, 44, 65. /
Why did God choose you?
To understand why God chooses some according to His purpose is found in the Bible. Let us look at Israel. Deuteronomy 7:6-8, God choose Israel on the ground of his love. Why did He choose Isaac over Ismael, Jacob over Esau Pharaoh and the remnant of Israel? Romans 9:9-18./ 11:5-6. The reason taken from our passages is the
The love of God,
The mercy of God and
The grace of God.
Another reason is that no man should boast and glory in himself or man. 1 Corinthians 1:29, 31. Finally, those called will respond by faith to Him. Acts 9:15-16.
The kind of people God chooses
The kind of people He chooses is humbling. God’s choice is different from humanity-biased choices. God says My thoughts, ways, and choices are not like yours o man. You can check out the epistle of 1 Corinthian 1:26-28 and find out what God Choice is. It is NOT to be found in any of these things:
It is not according to one’s race, nationality, tribe, height strength, and wealth,
Beauty, aristocracy, intelligence, and intellectualism,
God called and chose people from all nations according to His grace to be a chosen generation: Revelation 5:9.
The purpose of God
God choose us according to His purpose and plan for the ages. Here below I have written some of the reason God called and chooses us.
1) Romans 8:28-33, to be conformed to the image of His Son Jesus Christ.
2) Ephesians 2:10, to perform the good works ordained by God for us.
3) 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14, 2 Timothy 1:9, to salvation and obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus as kings and priest, joint-heirs a new race and people of God
As a parenthesis, the Parable of the wedding Matthew 22:1-14,
In verse 14 of the chapter, it says many are called and few are chosen. This does not contradict our calling. Much care should be exercised in the application of the verse. It is to be understood under the light of the
• The general call and
• The special call of God
In the parable, many were called both good and bad guest. The mix multitudes have to be separated in light of the holiness of God. Just as Abraham and Lot were separated. There is a parallel in the book of Jeremiah 24:1-10, the good and the bad figs. The garment of the true believers is representative of the imputed righteousness of the saints Galatians 3:26-28, Isaiah 61:10, Revelation 19:14
Response and Doctrinal application
You might not fully understand the doctrine and meaning of your election because it is not given to know. What is important is your response in thanksgiving, faith, and love showing the praise of him that has called you out of darkness. Today is the day of salvation and acceptance.
